"Dear Edie, We are getting ready for the World Salsa Championships in Europe. We have our doubts - because everyone is so good. The rehearsals are agony, and we are struggling with our choreography. It seems we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. The entire preparation is a slow and painful process. Last week, we both just wanted to quit. I'm beginning to wonder if we are even cut out for this. How do the Champions do it, and do well every single year? We are writing the famous, Edie, The Salsa Freak for some 'Grand words of encouragement'.
- Exhausted Italian Competitor

With the overwhelming popularity of partner dancing lately, more and more dancers all over the world are busy looking, choosing, and quietly deciding who to partner with. This month, I'd like to discuss how to find (and keep) a good dance partner, and how to prepare for a dance competition.

Aside from our partner-search service, partners can be found in classified ads in the newspaper, in dance magazines, at dance studios, colleges, universities, at the gym, and in nightclubs.

The first thing you have to decide on, is what type of partnership commitment YOU, YOURSELF are willing to make on a personal level.

RESEARCH first, THEN decide.

Can you honestly say "Yes" to the following?

Are you willing to dedicate countless hours with someone, day in and day out, week after week, and possibly month after month?

Do you have the physical energy left after your day job, to practice into the late hours of the night, very very hard?

Are you willing to put up with the bruises, falls, accidental hits and physical demands placed on your body?

Are you willing to adjust and move around your otherwise "normal" schedule to fit in the hours, days, and weeks of practice sessions?

Are you willing to motivate and encourage the partner you choosewhen they just don't seem like they're with it, nor worth it anymore?

Are you willing to pay the money for studio time, music, outfits, and sometimes needed professional instruction?

Edie's Thoughts...
I've spoken, and "typed" to tons of people about the competition. I could write for hours and hours about all the stories both good and bad,coming in right and left about this contest.

But first of all, let me say from what I've been told and what I've seen, that the Los Angeles Mayan Salsa Competition is the most glamorous, most prestigious Salsa competition in the world right now. Consider that the Mayan holds almost 2,000 people, and 2,000 people are WATCHING this competition. Every Saturday, 2,000 people stand in line dance Salsa. That, in itself, is incredible.

The Mayan did a great job this year of making sure everyone in the audience could see the dancers. They erected an enormous big-screen above the stage that projected the dancers close-up
...

From downstairs in the basement of the Mayan Nightclub in Los Angeles, you can faintly hear the music upstairs, muffled, but still loud and electrifying. You feel the distant pulse of the music run through your body and magically into your heart. You're with all the other competitors now. You look at the number you've drawn from that jar. It's the number you were destined to have - the order in which you're about to dance. Whether first, second, or last, everybody is at first surprised, maybe disappointed, maybe happy. For those of us who are disappointed in the numbers we drew, we try to rationalize it in our minds so we don't dwell on it.... "Oh, we're first - I don't know...." Or, "Oh no, we're last!!" Or, "Ugh, we're number four!"

You notice their fancy outfits, their glitter and diamonds. You see some of them rehearsing their routines, some of them sitting on a couch in the corner with their eyes closed. Some of them are stretching their leg muscles,
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I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.
- George Bernard Shaw

Dear Edie,Do you think there is a difference between what you do and what you normally see from people with ballroom dance training (especially on shows like Dancing with the Stars, etc.)? If so, how would you explain that difference?
- Curious

Dear Curious, Club style is more relaxed, dynamic and fun.
Ballroom style is more stiff because of rules, regulations and restrictions.
- Edie

Later that day... Edie,
Thanks, I appreciate the information. Now, a follow-up with explanation. If you can help, I would appreciate it.

I am involved with a group of Spanish teachers (about two dozen of us) that put on regular competitions for our students. One of the events is Latin dance. The students dance Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia (Norteña) and Tango Argentino. For years I recruited judges that were "street" or "club" dancers, but due to circumstances over which I have no control, these judges have been dropping out. Lately we have had teachers who are ballroom dancers join in the activities. They have been bringing their friends (also
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Hi Edie! I just had to write and tell you about the experience I had the other night at a local club here in [city]. This club has a Salsa contest every Thursday night with a prize of $250 dollars, which is not much, but it serves for some good party money!